Meet Olivia Carter, a driving force behind global food policy advocacy at the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI). As a Program and Financial Compliance Officer, she ensures funding fuels impactful initiatives that promote healthier food systems and protect the right to nutrition. Her passion for public health runs deep—rooted in a personal connection to food’s power to heal and transform lives. Olivia shares her journey, the latest trends in food advocacy and what keeps her fighting for a future where everyone has access to nutritious food.
What is your role at GHAI?
As a Program and Financial Compliance Officer for the Food Policy Program, I manage a global portfolio of sub-grants that support initiatives promoting healthy food policy and protecting the right to food. My role involves overseeing sub-grants in Barbados, Cameroon, Ghana, Jamaica, South Africa, Saint Kitts and the United States, providing programmatic and budgetary guidance to local partners to ensure both impact and financial compliance throughout the grant lifecycle.
What initially inspired you to get involved in public health, and how has that shaped your decision to pursue a career in the field?
I was first introduced to public health in college while studying to become a physician. However, I found myself increasingly drawn to understanding health disparities and finding solutions to adverse health outcomes. One day, while expressing my frustration to a peer, I said, “I just want to research health issues and solve them.” She responded, “So you want to pursue a career in public health.” And from that moment, everything fell into place—the rest was history.
What drives your passion for advocating for food and nutrition policies, and how do you believe they can impact public health?
My passion for advocating for food and nutrition policies stems from the belief that what we eat profoundly affects our health. Access to nutritious food is a human right, yet many communities face barriers to making healthy choices. Food has the power to heal, and everyone should have access to that benefit, free from politicization. This belief is also deeply personal; my own family’s experience with food and traditional cuisine has had negative health impacts over previous generations. It took the efforts of those before me to break that cycle and create a healthier future. That transformation inspires my commitment to advocating for policies that ensure equitable access to nutritious food for all.
Having been part of the GHAI team in various roles since 2019, how has the Food Policy Program changed since you started?
Since I joined GHAI in 2019, the Food Policy Program has experienced significant growth. Primarily, the team has grown, and I’ve had the privilege of working with talented individuals both domestically and abroad. Another key development has been the creation of the Advocacy Fund in 2020, which invests in timebound and strategic campaigns to grow both the food policy evidence base and the global network of advocates. This has strengthened our program and amplified the impact of our local partners. Our team’s ability to collaborate with an increasing number of partners and across various projects shows the program’s growing capacity and commitment to advancing food policy advocacy and creating lasting change.
What is your favorite part about working with civil society organizations and advocates?
My favorite part is building personal connections with our partners and witnessing their passion for their work. Grant site visits allow me to see program activities firsthand and understand their impact. I’m particularly inspired by youth advocates, whose energy drives meaningful change. Ultimately, it’s the lasting connections I form with these individuals that make the work so rewarding, continually motivating me to strive for greater impact in food policy.
You support partners across different regions of the world – from Barbados to Colombia to South Africa. Have you noticed any emerging trends in food policy advocacy across these different contexts?
Across the diverse regions I support, I’ve noticed several emerging trends in food policy advocacy. A growing emphasis on food justice and access as a human right reflects a commitment to equitable nutrition for all. There’s also increased focus on educating and mobilizing youth advocates, recognizing their potential for lasting change. Coalition building has become more flexible and informal, enabling easier collaboration across diverse contexts. Lastly, cross-regional learning and idea exchange are on the rise, with advocates sharing innovative strategies to strengthen the global food justice movement.
In your time at GHAI, is there a specific achievement or project that stands out as especially meaningful to you, and why?
One of my most meaningful achievements at GHAI has been my two-time involvement in the Advocacy Fund open call for proposals, which helps uncover new opportunities, bring in diverse partners and ensure equity and transparency in grantmaking and selection.
Being part of the process from start to finish has been rewarding, especially witnessing the journey from application to project implementation. Additionally, I created an Open Call Protocol for the Advocacy Fund as part of my Master of Public Health practicum at George Washington University. This protocol aimed to redesign our grant application process through a more equitable lens, diversifying our applicants and eventual partners. This project allowed me to apply my academic and professional experience, contributing to a resource that will support the program’s future growth.
What is something most people do not know about you?
Most people don’t know that I’ve recently taken up boxing. It’s been a fun and refreshing way to stay active, and I enjoy the challenge of trying something different.
